When planting new strawberry crowns, gardeners often wonder about the timeline for the first sweet harvest. For those choosing everbearing varieties, the specific question is whether the plants will produce fruit in the very first year they are established. Understanding the unique biology of these plants provides the clearest answer to this common garden query.
Understanding Everbearing Strawberry Types
Everbearing strawberries are classified by a distinct fruiting pattern, differing significantly from varieties that produce a single, large crop. They generate multiple flushes of blossoms and fruit throughout the growing season, typically delivering two main crops: one in late spring and a second in late summer or early fall.
Many modern varieties sold as everbearing are actually “day-neutral” types. Day-neutral varieties are not strongly influenced by day length, instead flowering and setting fruit continuously as long as the temperature remains within a favorable range (typically 35 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit). This continuous production distributes the plant’s energy across an extended fruiting period, resulting in a steady supply of fruit.
Expectations for First-Year Harvest
The direct answer is yes, everbearing strawberries can produce fruit in their first year of planting. However, this initial yield is light, sporadic, and not a full representation of the plant’s potential. When new bare-root plants are set out in early spring, their primary directive is to establish a robust root system and a strong crown.
If the plant is allowed to fruit immediately, the energy required for berry development is diverted away from this foundational growth. This reallocation can weaken the structure and compromise productivity in subsequent years. Gardeners who manage early growth successfully can expect a modest harvest beginning in late summer, often around August, and continuing until the first hard frost.
This initial fruit set should not be mistaken for the plant’s mature yield. Berries produced this season may be smaller than those harvested in the second year when the root system is fully developed. True, heavy production will commence in the second growing season, as the goal in the first year is plant establishment.
Managing the Plant for Future Yields
To ensure maximum productivity in the second year and beyond, the recommended management practice is to remove the first flush of flowers. This practice, often called “pinching” the blossoms, prioritizes vegetative growth over immediate fruit production. Removing the flowers redirects the plant’s energy into expanding the root mass and forming multiple crowns.
A larger, stronger crown with a deep root system is better equipped to support the heavy fruit load expected in following seasons. For everbearing and day-neutral varieties, this pinching period is shorter than for other types. Gardeners should remove all blossoms for the first six to eight weeks after spring planting, or until early July.
After this initial period of flower removal, the plants can be allowed to set fruit from later summer blossoms. This strategy allows the plant to become well-established for long-term health while still offering a small, fresh harvest in the late summer and fall of the first year. Consistent checking for runners, which also siphon energy, is another practice that helps focus the plant’s energy on fruit production.